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UPDATE: Larry Johnson Apologizes for Use of Gay Slur

Kansas City Chiefs running back, Larry Johnson, issued a statement yesterday apologizing for his use of anti-gay epithets:

"First of all, I want to apologize to the fans of the Kansas City Chiefs and the rest of the NFL, Commissioner Goodell, the Chiefs organization, Coach Todd Haley, his staff, and my teammates for the words I used yesterday. I regret my actions. The words were used by me in frustration, and they were not appropriate. I did not intend to offend anyone, but that is no excuse for what I said.”

"I also want to apologize to all the kids who view athletes as role models. I was not a good role model yesterday and hopefully I can become a better role model. We all make mistakes, and the challenge is to learn from them. I will do my best to learn from this one as I move toward becoming a better person, teammate, and member of the Kansas City Chiefs team and community."

Currently, the NFL is reviewing the situation while Johnson has been asked to refrain from participating in practice and other team activities.

In response, Jarrett Barrios, GLAAD’s president, explained that "Larry Johnson's apology sends an important message that there is no excuse for using anti-gay epithets. We are continuing to call on the NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs to use this unfortunate incident as a way to educate and start a dialogue with players and fans regarding the dangers of homophobia in sports.”

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